Platte County Was Not Part Of Missouri In 1821 When the State Joined the Union

November 05, 2010

Platte County is part of the Platte Purchase which added the northwest section to Missouri in 1836. It was one of the last official acts of William Clark before his death. The signing of the treaties that allowed settlers to start coming into the area was held at Fort Leavenworth.

Early letters from that time tell how settlers were eager to occupy rich farming land. Immigrants from Tennessee and Kentucky planted corn and hemp. These were the two most frequently raised crops in the county before the Civil War. These letters also tell of the hardships; the Missouri River froze all winter and people drove wagons across it. The weather was harsh and unpredictable. The land was not surveyed, and ownership was often contested. Crops had to be shipped to eastern markets for sale, and travelled by riverboat from Parkville, Weston or Iatan. All these overhead costs made profits tenuous for pioneer farmers.

Mid-Continent Public Library has a tremendous book on Platte County that tells the story of the County and its people from the 1840's to the present. It is called History of Platte County, Missouri; A Proud Legacy. This book was researched and published by the Platte County Historical Society. It is loaded with historic pictures and the stories of the County's past and present residents. Request a copy of this book and enjoy it soon.

Howard B.
Dearborn Branch